Wednesday, November 4, 2026

Last night, all 435 U.S. House seats, 33 U.S. Senate seats, the governorships of 36 states, and many more state and local office candidates, along with ballot initiatives, were set before American voters. Humane World Action Fund backed candidates in many of these races after evaluating their positions on animal protection issues such as the use of animals in research and testing, increasing access to veterinary care, protecting horses from slaughter for human consumption, defending our nation’s wildlife against myriad threats, and upholding states’ rights to enact comprehensive animal protection laws including those impacting farmed animals.

While the final results of the 2026 midterm elections are still coming in, this much is clear: you and other supporters and allies showed up to vote for a more humane world. And, voters more broadly ushered in significant changes across our government. Control of both chambers in the U.S. Congress swings back to the Democrats with seats flipped in several states. Incumbent retirements, electoral defeats, and other departures mean the 120th Congress will be full of new faces. Whether old allies or newly elected, the team at Humane World Action Fund is ready to work with all legislators who share our compassion for animals and want to end animal cruelty.

Now, let’s take a look at the incredible difference you made in this election cycle and the key outcomes that set the stage for our work moving forward.

Starting at the top of your ballot, animal advocates re-elected a slew of animal champions to the U.S. House and Senate. Cory Booker (D) is returning to the U.S. Senate, where he will continue to oppose efforts by a segment of the pork industry to block states’ ability to enact animal protection legislation. Voters also stood firm behind Jim McGovern (D), a leader in the fight to pass the Puppy Protection Act (H.R. 2253) to address serious gaps in welfare standards for tens of thousands of breeding dogs and puppies at large-scale breeding operations licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Unfortunately, this cycle has us bidding farewell to longtime animal allies Susan Collins (R), who has championed legislation to combat wildlife trafficking and retire government laboratory animals to loving homes, and Brian Fitzpatrick (R), co-chair of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus who often bucked his own conference on key animal protection votes. Humane World Action Fund thanks them for their singular leadership. Regardless of the outcome, we were pleased to see so many candidates seeking, and celebrating, our endorsement.

Historic turnover in Congress is also bringing fresh voices for animals into the fight against cruelty at the federal level. Illinois state representative La Shawn K. Ford (D), who supported legislation to prohibit wildlife killing contests, and Georgia state representative Jasmine Clark (D), who supported legislation expanding access to rabies vaccinations, are making the jump to the U.S. House where they can continue to advocate for companion animals and wildlife.

Across the country, voters reelected governors who are using their executive power to ink pro-animal policies into law and to strike down attacks. Arizonans resoundingly backed Governor Katie Hobbs (D), who continues to stand against attempts to gut protections for the state’s native wolves. On the East Coast, New Hampshire voters reelected Governor Kelly Ayotte (R), who consistently supports protections for animals. New Yorkers also overwhelmingly reelected Governor Kathy Hochul (D), who has signed numerous pro-animal laws from protecting horses and burros in New York from slaughter to ending the sale of cats, dogs, and rabbits in retail pet stores.

Americans continue to elect champions who are committed to ending animal testing. Maryland State Senator Ben Kramer (D), sponsor of the groundbreaking Animal Research Modernization and Best Practices Act that passed into law this year, was reelected. Last night In Colorado, voters reelected Amy Paschal (D), who championed legislation that requires research facilities to offer healthy animals no longer used in testing for adoption, giving these animals a second lease on life free of exploitation and full of the care they deserve. We continue to make great strides in ending the suffering of millions of animals used in research laboratories and are grateful to see allies on the right side of this issue continue to build the groundswell of support for moving away from this cruel, outdated practice.

Companion animals won big this year, with champions returning to state legislatures to continue the fight for better access to care, stronger cruelty statutes, and the end of the puppy mill to pet store pipeline. Texans reelected representative Claudia Ordaz (D), who championed Pancho’s Law to strengthen the state’s animal cruelty statute. Floridians backed Linda Chaney (R) a sponsor of Dexter’s Law, which strengthened penalties for severe animal cruelty and created a statewide animal abuser database.

Voters also made clear that they are not entertained by exploitative traveling animal acts that force animals to endure extreme confinement, chronic stress and inadequate care, spending most of their lives in cramped cages on the road. In Washington, Marko Liias (D) was reelected after sponsoring a state law that ended traveling acts including elephants, bears, nonhuman primates, and wild cats. Illinois voters also stood behind Kelly Cassidy (D), who sponsored a similar state law to end performances by big cats, nonhuman primates, and bears. Their work proves that when we elect humane candidates, we see humane results.

This election didn’t just send animal advocates back to state capitals across the country; voters voiced their support for animals directly through ballot measures. In Denver, voters overwhelmingly supported Ordinance 311, a measure to ban the forced feeding of birds as well as the sale, distribution, import, or receipt of products derived from force-fed birds. Coloradans are also on track to defeat Amendment 83, a constitutional amendment that would have enshrined a so-called “Right to Hunt” and established hunting as the preferred wildlife management method by the state.

Across the board, our movement showed up to vote compassionately. Thank you for doing your civic duty and making your voices heard for animals up and down the ballot.

While this election cycle is coming to a close, we must keep up the pressure to end all forms of animal cruelty as new elected officials take their oaths of office. Their decisions will powerfully impact the lives of our nation’s companion animals, farmed animals, those in research and testing, and wildlife. We celebrate our wins for animals at the polls today and will continue to show up in the halls of local, state, and federal governments tomorrow.